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Historic steamship’s backers think Congress will OK law to let Delta Queen carry overnight passengers

** FILE ** In this Oct. 21, 2008 file photo people gather at the Anderson Ferry to view the riverboat Delta Queen, as it moves up the Ohio River past Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)
** FILE ** In this Oct. 21, 2008 file photo people gather at the Anderson Ferry to view the riverboat Delta Queen, as it moves up the Ohio River past Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File) ** FILE ** In this Oct. 21, 2008 file photo people gather at the Anderson Ferry to view the riverboat Delta Queen, as it moves up the Ohio River past Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

By Tim Omarzu 6 min read

photo DQGrandstaircase Delta Queen Steamboat CompanyCo. The grand staircase aboard the Delta Queen, with its hand-crafted wood and crystal chandelier, harkens back to the golden age of boat travel.

The Delta Queen may finally sail again after a decade at dock.

The historic steamship did duty as a floating boutique hotel in Chattanooga’s Coolidge Park from 2009 to 2015. Then it was towed away in 2015 to a canal in Houma, La., – where it still sits – after high winter Tennessee River water levels on several occasions submerged its dock and gangway, and the hotel, restaurant and bar were closed to the public.

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke pushed to have the empty hotel removed for obstructing the view.

Now, the U.S. Congress may finally allow the Delta Queen to again ply the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee rivers and carry overnight passengers.

The U.S. Senate voted 85-12 on April 3 to approve legislation that would exempt the Delta Queen from federal safety regulations that had forced it to dock.